How to: Configure a Server to Listen on an Alternate Pipe (SQL Server Configuration Manager)

By default, the default instance of SQL Server Database Engine listens on named pipe \\.\pipe\sql\query. Named instances of SQL Server Database Engine and SQL Server Compact 3.5 SP2 listen on other pipes. Use SQL Server Configuration Manager to change the pipe used by the Database Engine.

There are three ways to connect to a specific named pipe with a client application: